Middle Eastern Tales
Zan Azlee (centre) with ‘underground’ Iranian band Arsames.
Zan Azlee’s eye-opening travelogue on four countries in the Middle East debuts tomorrow over ntv7, writes DENNIS CHUA.
RAMADAN, the month for self-reflection and renewal, will be celebrated by ntv7 with a travelogue by up-and-coming filmmaker Zan Azlee.
Zan’s four-episode programme, I’m Muslim Too, is about his recent month-long visit to four Middle Eastern countries, namely Iran, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
The half-hour show airs every Thursday from 7.30pm starting tomorrow.
The entire series will be shown as a full-length film on the first day of Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
The Johor Baru-born filmmaker, who had a “great time meeting very friendly and non-judgemental youths” in the Middle East, spent an average of three to four days in each country.
In Iran, he met up with an independent band, Arsames, which has been playing in private venues around the republic for the last five years.
“They are not allowed to perform ‘live’ in public, thus they distribute their albums outside the country,” he said.
In Syria, Zan learnt about a video game called Special Force promoted by the Syrian-based Lebanese political movement Hezbollah, which depicted American and Israeli troops as “baddies” to be defeated.
“The video game gained some notoriety in the American and Israeli media, which claimed it was popular in Syria. I quickly learnt that it wasn’t,” he said.
In Lebanon, Zan visited Palestinian refugee children at a camp in Beirut and was impressed by the efforts of young Palestinian volunteers who were themselves refugees, in educating and caring for their brethren.
“It took me eight hours to travel by bus from Damascus in Syria to Beirut. At the Syrian-Lebanese border, the bus broke down and I had to hitch-hike a few times.
“Lebanese soldiers detained me briefly when I snapped a photograph of the last cafe I visited as I left the country for Syria. Fortunately, they realised I was a Malaysian and promptly released me,” he said.
Zan described Jordan as an open-minded society with a rich history.
“I visited the ancient Roman town of Jerash where an international arts and music festival is held annually. One artist built a replica of the Dome of the Rock made entirely from coloured glass!”
Zan, who directed, produced, wrote, edited and filmed the English-language programme with his production company Fat Bidin Media, described his journey as an “eye-opener”.
“It gave me an insight into life in the Middle East,” he said.
“Throughout the journey, I had my portable digital equipment with me - and lots of instant noodles!”
He has produced and directed numerous films that have been showcased at local and international film festivals.
They include Handphone Junkie (2000), Popiahs, Murtabaks and a Patriotic Donkey (2003), which won the Cyberjaya Digital Video Competition 2003 Gold Award (Humour and Spoof - Amateur), Dancing with Lions (2003), Wan (2003), The Black, White and Grey (2003), I May Be Malaysian, But I Carry a Big Stick (2003), R. A. H. M. A. N. (2004), Are You Happy? (2005), Tudung (2005), Searching for Sheila (2007) and Pandang Ke Timur (2007), which was his first full-length film.
Meanwhile, ntv7 is also airing another documentary that is set to inspire viewers.
My Journey is a biographical piece on some well-known individuals, including Datuk Azhar Mansor and Amy Search.
Viewers will be given rarely-known information about them, together with testimonials from their families, friends and associates.
My Journey airs every Friday from 7.30pm beginning this Friday.
Finally, meet chef Firdaus in 30-Minute Chef as he shares healthy ways to prepare hearty meals for Ramadan.
It airs every Sunday from 4.30pm beginning this Sunday.
New Straits Times